Les femmes illustres or The heroick harangues of the illustrious women written n French by the exquisite pen of Monsieur de Scuddery governour of Nostre Dam. Translated by James Innes.

CLEOPATRA TO MARK-ANTHONIE. THE THIRD HARRANGUE.

ARGUMENT.

AFter the losse of the Battle of Actium, Occasi∣oned by Cleopatras flight, which was followed by that of Anthonie: Herhad some opinion, that she would Betray him, and testisled his Resentments to her. But that Lovely and Just Egyptian, who desired to take away from him any im∣pression that could be disadvant agious to her: Did thus speak to him in behalf of her innocenoie. I have surely establish∣ed these words, which I put in the mouth of that Queen, upon the Conjectures of Historie: And according to my sense, see what she could say at that time, so that Irritated Lover.

CLEOPATRA TO MARK-ANTHONIE.

IS it true then, that Anthonie could suspect Cleopatra to have fa∣voured his Enemie? that he could think she would with her own hand pluck the Crown from him, which Victorie was putting upon his head? And to say all in one word, that he be∣lieved she had betrayed him? Ah if it be so, and if by my Discourse I cannotremit reason in your Soul, by giving it other thoughts of my fidelitie. I desire no more life; and death is the end of my wishes. No Anthonie, if I be dead in your heart, I will live no longer in the World: And per∣haps my death will let you see, that I have not desired yours. But I pray you tell me (O Illustrious Em∣perour) what way, by what liberalities, or by what hopes could Octavius corrupt my fidelitie? This surelie cannot be a new Passion, that hath sur∣prised my heart in conquering his; Since we are e∣quallie unknown to other. This could not be so by presents, for what could I receive from him, which I have not received from you, who has given me whole Kingdoms, and made me reign over the most part of Asia? but if it were true, that I could have resolved to leave you, and follow his partie, what securitie could I have taken from his words? where are the pedges he has sent me in assurance of our Treatit? What places hath he rendered to me? Why Anthonie, could I have trusted my self to Cesars word he who is Octavi•••• brother: He who publicklie deelared War against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Rome, and who did know me much better, 〈◊〉〈◊〉

the name of that Aegyptian, more famous (said he) by her Enchantments then by her beautie, then not by that of Cleopatra? Why Anthonie, could I have been assured of him? By that Cleopatra should have loaded her self with Chains? she should have with her own hands tied her armes to the Triumphing Chariot of her Enemie, and which is also worse, Anthonies Enemie. And by an imprudence and ungratitude which never had example, she should have betrayed a man who betrayed his own glorie for love of her; who hath made himself enenmy to his Country for her sake; who hath abandoned Cesars sister, rather then forsake her? Who hath divided his power with her? Who hath preferred her interests to those of the Roman Empire? and who, to say all, hath absolutlie given her his heart.

Ah! My Anthonie, all those things are unliklie: And it almost suffices to see, that I have not forgot my obligations to you, to make me be thought innocent. But if it be permitted me to add one other Reason: I shall say, that as none that is generous doth as easilie forget the good deeds of anie other; so none loves to loss their own proprietie: and seldom would we by inju∣ries deform the good offices which we do to anie Bodie.

Consider then if it be possible (pardon me for speak∣ing so) that after I had done all for you that I have done, I my self would extinguish the remembrance of it in your Soul: And of my own inclination, infuse hatred in the heart, whose Empire hath cost me so manie Vowes and so much Pains. For if you Remember, My dear Anthonie, you was rather my conquest, then I yours: fame had given me a Picture of you, which possessing me with admiration, made me design to overcome in your person the Conqueror of all others. And though my eyes had sometimes gained famous Victories, and could have counted among their Cap∣tives Caesares and Halph gods: Yet I trusted not to their Charmes, I suspected my beautie at that time; I thought it had not force enough to conquer you: And as you was the most Magnificent of all men, I did not wish that love should take possession of your heart, but by Magnificencie: And that the day of its Pr••sall should seem rather to be a day of Triumph then of Battle.

I desired to dasle your eyes then by the beautie of my Armes: for if you remember, My dear Anthonie, the first day that I say you, I shinned in a ship, whose Poupe was all of Gold, the sails Purpell, and the oares Silver, which by their Equall Cadence, imitated the sound of diverse instruments concording together. I was under a Pavilion or wrought Gold, and know∣ing your Birth was divine, because you are descended of Hercules, you are not ignorant, that I had a Vesture like that which is given to Venus. All my Women were Splendidlie Cloathed as Nymphes: and a hun∣dred Cupidons round about me: Were also an effect of the desire I had to overcome you; For in fine, My dear Anthony, that little Armour was only made against you.

It was not then without design that I overcame you: I employed all things to that end: And nothing that Beautie, Skill, or Magnificencie could do was fogot at that time. I know verie well it is imprudence, to speak to you of all those things, in a time so differing from the felicitie of that: but that day was so glo••ious to me, that I can never loss the memorie of it: And moreover, to speak Rationallie, that Remembrance is not unprofitable for my Vindication. For to think any way, that I my self would loss my conquests? such thoughts never entered in the minde of any Conque∣rour: Certainlie Alexander would have rather chosen to loss Macedonia then Persia: That Kingdom was his Fathers Estate; But this was truelie his own: And by the same Reason, I would have rather lost my self then lost you. You know also if I be not mistaken that I was no severe Conqueress: the Chains I gave you were of no weight: my Lawes had nothing of Rudness in them: and in the manner I used you, it had been hard to know, who was Victorious.

Since that, what have I done Anthonie, to make me be suspected? It is true I forgot my own Glorie, but it was for love of you. Yes, I have suffered my self to be opprobriated in Rome: and although the pride of your Country, that treats all strangers like Barbarians, and all Queens (like slaves) hindered me from being your Wife, the affection which I have for your Person is so strong, that I have not left off to be yours. Yes, Anthonie, I loved you more then my honor, and more

then my life: I thought it could not be unjust to love a man worthie of being ranked among the gods: And that the Passion which I had in my Soul, had so noble a cause, that it would render me excusable: so that without considering what misfortuns were prepared for me, I have most constantlie loued you, ever since the f••••st day that I gave you my promise. Judge from that if I had power to betray you, or to speak bet∣ter if I would betray my self. It is true, I fled, but gene∣rous Anthonie, if I took the flight it was for love of you, I slighted the Victorie to preserve your life: And your person was dearer to me, then your glorie or my own.

I Well see that this Discourse Astonishes and surprises you. But for your comprehension, permit me to tell what condition my Soul was in, when in the midest of the Fight, I saw you all covered with Darts and Flams. The death which I saw in so manie places made me apprehensive of yours: all the Enemies Javelines seemed by me to address themselves against you: And, in the manner, that my imagination represented the affair to me, I thought all Cesars Armie desired to fight none but Anthonie. I manie times fancied that I saw you dragged by force into the enemies vessalls, or fall dead at their feet.

And although those who were round about me, assured me, that I was deceived by my eyes, and that the Victorie was still uncertain; What did I not say in those fatal moments? And what grief did I not feel? Ah! my dear Anthonie, did you but know the sorrows of a Soul, that sees the Person beloved everie minute in hazard of dying; you would find it the most ter∣rible torment, thar can ever be indured. My heart received all the blows which were aimed at you; I was captive everie time, I thought you so, and death it self hath nothing so rude, as what I suffered at that time. In that deplorable condition, I found no re∣medie for my grief: and my imagination using greater Ingenuitie for my Persecution; after having perswaded me that all the enemies desired your death, immediat∣lie perswaded me, that they resolved to preserve your life, thereby to make themselves Masters of your li∣bertie. The first thought did certainlie give me a little

ease: But the image of Cesars Triumph, presenting it self all at once to me, I relapsed into my former despaire. It was not, my dear Anthonie, that I believ∣ed you capable of following a Conquerours Charriot: But I thought that to shune that supream misfortune, you would have recourse to death: So that whatever way it was, I alwayes found my self equallie unhappie. I bethought me of what poison I should choice that I might follow you: And there is no fatall Resolution which past not in my minde I thought more then twen∣tie times to cast my self into the Sea, to free me from the agonie I was in: Yet because I could not die with out forsaking you, I could not pursue that design.

But coming of a sudden to consider the strong Pas∣sion which you alwaies testified to me, I thought if you should see me abandon the armie, you would also forsake it & by that found I the meanes of preserving your life, and libertie together. For (said I to my self, after framing that Resolution) Cesar doth not seek Victorie so much, as the life or libertie of Anthonie: And upon condition that he have neither the one nor the other, I shall be glad to loss the Battle. In fine, my dear Anthonie, I did what my affection and despair councelled me to do: And you did what I expected from your love I had no sooner seen, you quit your Ship, and take a Galley to follow me: but my heart was sea••ed with a Surprisall of Joy: Me thought it was I gained the Battle, because I preserved you: And beginning to think that Cesar would be content to exchange his for for••••••e for mine, I was partlie comforted of all my disgrace••. But that which yeelded me most satisfaction in that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 day was to see Anthonie capable of preferring Cleopatra to the desire of conquering his enemies: that he lov∣ed better to follow her though unfortunate, then to p••••∣sue the Victorie and in fine, that the Empire of the Wor•••• was not so dear to him as Cleopatra. This thought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so pleasant that though my fright ranked us among the conquered, I cannot repent me, and as the case is, the Battle of Actium shall not be so glorious •••• Cesar as to Cleopatra. He overcame Souldiers who wanted their Commander, but Cleopatra saw the most Valiant of all the Heroes, throw away his Armes, and follow her. But to perfect my vindication, 〈…〉〈…〉

my dear Anthonie, that how soon you was disingaged from your Ships, I caused a Banner be set upon the Poupe of mine, to advertise you where you should find me. Judge then if that could be the action of a Criminall; For if I had designed to be separated from you, it was easie for me not to have received you: Because I had sixtie sail, and you had but one single Galley. If I had betrayed you I might have easilie delivered you unto Cesars hands: And by that given him truelie the Victorie.

If I had essaied to rank my self on the enemies side; if the flight which I took, might have been suspicious to you; I shall say your suspicions are lawfull: But on the contrare, my flight having been the effect of my despair and love you should complain of fortune and not accuse Cleopatra.

Further, do not imagine, that that Victorie shall ei∣ther be verie Glorious to Cesar, or your retrait sham∣full to you; You fled not from your enemies, you but followed Cleopatra. Your Souldiers were conquer∣ed by Cesar, but you was onlie by love. If this Battle had been the first occasion of War, wherein you had been found, your Valior might have been questi∣oned: but it is so Universallie known, that none are igno∣rant of it. There are almost no People, among whom you have not given proof of your courage in the begin∣ning of your Youth: And certainlie you must have given manie, because the great Julius Cesar choise you to command the left wing of his armie, in the famous Battle of Pharsalia; and in a day whereon the conquest of the Empire of all the World depended.

And moreover, Octavius knows sufficientlie that you are skilfull in the art of fighting and conquering: That Battle which you gained against Cassius, will not per∣mit him to doubt: And less also the Victorie you had of Brutus: When at this time it may be said, that you have overcome Octavius his Conquerours: Because you know, that he lost the Battle some daies before, and baselie fled in presence of these, whom you soon after did overcome: But with this difference that Love caused your flight, and perhaps fear made his. You ••ee then my dear Anthonie, that you are conquered without disgrace, and that your enemies has overcome

without honor. And moreover, our affairs are not yet desperate: you have a strong Armie near Actium, which is not yet under Cesars Colours: My Kingdoms have also men, monie, & fortified places: and I wish that, all my Subjects may loss to the last drop of their blood to preserve yours and your libertie. But in fine, when fortune shall unjustlie take from you these Crowns, which your merit, and valiour have gained by force: Know that Cleopatras love shall not diminish. No my dear Anthonie, when that enemie of Illustrious Persons, shall reduce us to live under a Cotage of Straw, in some place remote from the Societie of the World; I shal have for you the same passion, that I had in that blessed hour, wherein you gave Kingdoms: And wherein twentie two Kings were to be seen in your Train. Think not then that misfortune can fright me: there is but one which I can never suffer with you: And doubtless which you also will not endure. Yes, Cleopatra can be exiled with Anthonie and not complain: She can Renounce all the Splendour of Royalitie, and yet preserve her desires of life, but bondage is that which she can ne∣ver endure, and which she knows you will not suffer no more then she. Be then assured, that so far from hav∣ing intelligence with Cesar, I give you my promise, to die rather then trust to him, or put my self in hazard of serving his Triumph.

No Anthonie, Cleopatra shall never carrie Chains •• And if fortune be so perverse to her, that she can have no way to choose, but that of Rome or of Death; The surrendering of her life, shall justifie your love to her, and her innocencie. But before we come to that ex∣tream remedie, let us do all things to resist our ene∣mies. Let us preserve life so long as we can without shame: For in fine, it should not be indifferent to us, while we love each other perfectlie. My dear Anthonie I perceive, me thinks by your eyes, that my discourse hath not been unprofitable: They tell me that your heart repents, of having unjustlie suspected me; That it sees my innocencie as pure as it is; and that the love it has for me is so great, that it forebears not yet to love the person, who robbed your hands of the Victorie. For me, my dear Anthonie, you shall alwayes be my strongest and last passion; I do acknowledge, that in

the time I did not know you, Julius Cesars glorie did touch my heart: And that I could not hinder my self from loving a man, who over all the Earth, passed for the first or Mortals. A man (I say) whom you formerlie judged worthie the Empire of all the World: Because you gave him his first honour, by putting a Diadem upon his head in the middle of Rome, and who after his death, by a brave and Heroick Oration which you made to the Roman People, caused him be set up amongst the gods: Who chased Brutus and Cassius; burned their Places; And Signalised your Courage and Friend ship.

But since the time I have seen you, I can assure you, that you have soveraignlie reigned in my Soul; and shall reign there continuallie. It is an Empire which fortune hath not given you, and which being without its domination, shall ever be yours in spight of its un∣justice. It may overturn Kingdoms and Empires, but it shall never change my heart: And whatever doth usuallie destroy the strongest affections, shall but fortifie mine. And to testifie to you, that I can love better then you, I will not suspect your Friendship of anie weakness. Yes Anthonie, I do believe that although Cleopatra hath caused all your misfortunes, she shall ever make all your happiness: and that without repent∣ing you of having ever loved her, she shall alwayes reign in your heart, as you do in hers. Let us go then my dear Anthonie, Let us go to Alexandria, to do our last Endeavours, to conquer those who have over∣come us: it is there where perhaps we shal yet find where∣withall to subdue the insolence of our enemies. But if it come to pass that Heaven hath resolved our Ruine; that fortune become constant to persecute as; that hope be absolutlie denyed us; that all your friends abandon you; that all my subjects betray me, and join with the stronger partie; if (I say) it come to pass that all those things befal us; we shal stil find our Tomb in Alexandria; And to merit from our enemies the favour, of letting our Ashes remain there together, we must Signalise our death, by shunning bondage: and in that manner, we shall Rob them of the Noblest fruits of their Victo∣rie, and conquer Cesar himself by death.

THE EFFECT OF THIS HARRANGUE.

THey who Love, let themselves be easily per∣swaded, by things which can please them: And the vol•••• of this fair Monster of Nilus, failed not to Attract Anthonies minde, to what she desired. He did not follow Cleo∣patra, to forsake her afterward: And his Choller being the Effect of his love, as well as his flight had been, it was as easie to apease it as to flie. He then believed all she said to him: He repented that he had suspected her fidelity: But repenred not the loss of the Empire of the World, for preserving Cleopatra. He followed her to Alexand∣ria? Where though she was more Generous that second, then the first time, they were not alwayes happy; And of all the things which she promised him Cleopatra could give Anthonie, but the half of her Tomb.